Numerous reports about the alleged abuse have circulated across the Internet from last Thursday.

The general consensus is that Holyfield hit Candi several times during an argument in their Fayetteville, Georgia home, some 20 miles south of Atlanta.

Reportedly she was hit in the face, the back of the head and her back on the night of February 1.

Apparently the argument was over payments to her church (believed to be based in the States). Reports stated she refused to present Holyfield, 47, check stubs showing the amount of money she gave to the church as an offering.

The matter was brought up in Fayetteville County court where Candi made a statement about the incident, according to county records.

“He said that I was being disrespectful,” Candi said. “He started telling me that I needed to start putting God first in my life.”

In addition Candi, 30, reportedly received a temporary protective order against him. On February 3, a magistrate judge banned Holyfield from being within 500 yards of Candi and their two children: a six year-old boy and five year-old girl. A formal hearing for the couple is slated for this Thursday.

Candi has not spoken to any media since the incident and wants to keep it a private matter. Her Cayman family feels the same way as they were contacted for this story but declined to comment.

Surprisingly Holyfield, a four-time heavyweight champion who has made over US$200 million, is renowned for his strong Christian beliefs.

He has been quick to tell the international press that he reads the Bible often and prays everyday; even before and during fights.

Holyfield is also in the midst of a comeback in boxing. He was scheduled to fight Francis Botha in Uganda on Saturday but that bout was cancelled for financial reasons. Holyfield last fought Nikolai Valuev, losing to the Russian more than a year ago.

Candi is Holyfield’s third wife and hails from West Bay in Grand Cayman. She has been married to Holyfield for six years since July 1, 2003.

The pair met in an airport back when Candi was an Emory University student. At the time Holyfield was 40 and Candi was 24.

Sadly, according to Fayetteville County records, Candi was first abused by Holyfield six months after their marriage. The abuse (which was mostly emotional) has been ongoing throughout their marriage, especially after their first child. It has become physical since 2008.

The two major instances Candi gave in her court statement were of her husband choking her in front of their daughter and housekeeper and Holyfield hitting her in front of their children.

News of the abuse has been troubling for all of Candi’s Cayman family (including her mother, sister and brother) and friends. Among them is retired Queen’s Counsel Ramon Alberga.

The Alberga family had a link to Candi in her younger days and Ramon talked about his feelings on the matter.

“I’m shocked to hear this happen. We (my son Charles Alberga and I) gave her help as a girl through the West Bay Church of Christ, which we all attended in those days.

“She came from a difficult family that was not well off. She was quite a nice little girl though. She was very bright and friendly and was in the church. I never knew or heard of anything adverse about her.”

Alberga, who is now a member of the George Town Church of Christ, went on to talk about the current relationship he and his family have with Candi.

“As far as the incident goes I only know as much as you or anyone else knows. I first heard about it through watching CNN and seeing the little news ticker on the bottom of the screen.

“I’ve lost touch with her since her youth. She hasn’t been back here for years and all I know is she has two kids.”